POLICE had to call off a pursuit after deeming it "too high" a risk to continue chasing a group of masked men who were speeding down a country road.

As part of a rural crime operation, Hampshire Constabulary's Country Watch team were on patrol on the A339 near Tadley in the evening of Friday, October 11.

At around 6.45pm, PC Thelwell spotted a man entering a silver Honda CRV 4x4 car with a registration of RE54HTG after witnessing him purchase food from a kebab van at a layby on the A339.

After seeing the police, the man jumped into the car, which was occupied by passengers wearing balaclavas.

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The Country Watch team under the Northern LightsThe Country Watch team under the Northern Lights (Image: Hampshire Constabulary)

The car sped off and drove in the middle of the road.

PC Thelwell deemed that "the risk to other road users was too high to continue following it."

Police are keen to locate the car and identify the occupants, and are urging those with information to get in touch by calling 101 or visiting https://orlo.uk/WjSXF

A statement from PC Lee Standbrook, posted on the Basingstoke Cops Facebook page, reads:

"Last night we carried out a Rural Crime Operation, with our local Neighbourhood Teams. We had the pleasure of having a BBC film crew with us, who are making a short film about Rural Crime.

"We showed them the various areas where our Rural Community have issues. We discussed the types of crimes that happen in Rural areas.

"Our colleague from the Country Watch team, PC Thelwell, had a Silver Honda CRV make off from him. This was early in the evening around 6:45 pm.

"PC Thelwell had seen the vehicle in a layby by the kebab van on the A339 near Tadley. A male had bought food and was returning to the 4x4.

"On seeing the Police, he jumped into the vehicle. The other passengers were wearing balaclavas.

"The vehicle sped off and drove in the middle of the road.

"PC Thelwell decided that the risk to other road users was too high to continue following it.

"The vehicle is a silver Honda CRV, with a registration of RE54HTG. Please keep an eye out for it.

"If you have any information about this vehicle or it's occupants please call 101 or use the online reporting system https://orlo.uk/WjSXF

"Sadly this incident happened before the BBC were with us so they didn't get to film it. However it sums up Rural Crime for me.

"We carried out patrols throughout the night in the Rural areas of Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor and towards the East Hants border.

"One bonus of being in very dark areas is that we could see the Aurora Borealis (which we should now refer to as the slightly Southern lights) My thanks to Pc Adam Boxall who managed to get some good photos.

"I think that the BBC film crew left with a better idea about Rural Crime in our area and it's effects on the Community.

"Hopefully this footage will be shown on BBC Morning Live around October 24. But we are waiting for confirmation about this."